Pen knives are one of the human’s greatest inventions. There’s something innately satisfying about flicking open a penknife and easily cutting open a box. But they aren’t just one-trick ponies. As you’ll see on this list, pen knives can be stacked with different features to make your life easier. On this list, we’ve got dual-blade pen knives, pen knives with LED flashlights, and much more. After hours of research and testing, we’ve come up with a list of 10 different knives. Here are the best pen knives.

The Best Pen Knife

1

Buck Knives 0110BRS 110 Famous Folding Hunter Pen Knife

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Mention the Buck Knives 110 to any ‘knife guy’ and they’ll tell you it’s a stone-cold classic. It was originally introduced in the 1960s and the design hasn’t changed much at all since then. In fact, aside from a few upgrades in blade material, it’s practically the same knife. This new model features an ethically-sourced ebony hardwood handle, just like the original 110. They even have a partnership with Taylor Guitars to source the ebony.

Of course, when it comes to knives, the blade is where the money’s at. This one comes out of the factory razor-sharp, and it stays that way thanks to the 420HC stainless steel they’ve used. In terms of edge retention, you’re not going to find a better knife in this price range.

You’ll be happy to know the locking mechanism has been updated since the 60’s model. It flicks open easily with a nail notch on the blade. Then, when you fold the blade away the lock-back mechanism keeps it firmly in place.

Despite being a 60-year old design, the Buck Knives 110 is one of the best selling pen knives on Amazon. It’s got over 2,500 reviews and has maintained a five-star rating, which is super impressive for any product. This is probably helped by the fact that it comes with a lifetime warranty. If you’re looking for a basic but really high-quality folding knife, the Buck 110 is still the best. Our guide to the best keychain knives features more amazing blades like this, so check them out.

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Key Features:

Ebony, brass, & dymondwood handle

420HC stainless steel blade

Approx closed length – 4.9”

Comes with a black leather sheath

Lifetime warranty

Specification:

BrandBuck Knives

Model0110BRS

Weight8 ounces

2

CRKT CEO EDC Folding Pocket Pen Knife

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You don’t always want to show off the fact that you’re carrying a knife. Whether you’re carrying it to protect yourself in dangerous situations or just to open letters, the CRKT CEO EDC Folding Pocket Knife is one of the most subtle knives on the market. Just make sure, if you are going to carry it, that it’s legal to do so where you live.

The most impressive thing about this folding pocket knife is the way it’s disguised. The low-profile design and metal clip mean that you can put it in the pocket of your shirt and it will look just like a pen. It’s also lightweight enough, so your pocket won’t sag and give away the game. Of course, you’d expect this level of design prowess from an award-winning knifemaker like Richard Rogers.

The knife flicks open using an IKBS ball bearing pivot system. It’s slightly difficult to press the release button (which stops it opening by accident) but the action is super smooth. Press this button and it reveals a high-carbon stainless-steel blade that comes pre-sharpened.

Thanks to its clandestine design and super sharp blade, the CRKT CEO is the perfect office companion. It’s capable of a huge amount but it will probably spend its whole life cutting opening letters and opening packages. Still, owning a knife like this is more about style than practicality.

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Key Features:

Reinforced nylon handle

High-carbon stainless-steel blade

Overall length – 7.265”

Blade length – 3.107”

IKBS ball-bearing pivot

Limited lifetime warranty

Specification:

BrandColumbia River Knife & Tool

Model7096

Weight2.08 ounces

3

Old Timer 18OT Mighty Mite Folding Pen Knife

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The Old Timer 18OT Mighty Mite is designed to look and feel like a vintage pocket knife. From the unique saw cut handle to the crudely stamped letters on the blade, this knife looks 50 years old. Of course, that’s the whole point.

The first thing that struck us about this knife is the size – it’s absolutely tiny. With an overall length of 4.7-inches and a blade that barely measures 2-inch, this is truly a pocket knife. Go to the Amazon customer reviews and look at the pictures of people holding the knife to get an idea of the size. Of course, its diminutive size comes with its own set of benefits – you can easily carry this knife in your pocket, it’s great for precision cutting jobs, and it’s legal to carry in most states.

The blade is made from 7Cr17MoV high-carbon stainless-steel. Known for its reliability and durability, this material is commonly used in budget knives. At this price point, you can’t expect them to use Damascus steel.

Speaking of the price, this is the cheapest knife on this list. Because it’s only small, less money has to go into the cost of materials, so it’s no surprise this knife is affordable. It does have its faults – for example, it can be pretty hard to open and close when it first arrives – but on the whole, it’s a pretty amazing deal. This is one of our favorite pen knives for men who want to own a piece of history. You may also like some of the best Benchmade pocket knives from our list, so be sure to check them out.

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Key Features:

Saw cut handle

7Cr17MoV stainless steel blade

Nickel silver bolsters

Overall length – 4.7”

Blade length – 2”

Specification:

BrandOld Timer

Model18OT

Weight3.52 ounces

4

CASE XX WR Pocket Pen Knife

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The CASE XX WR Pocket Knife might be tiny, but it’s still one of the most useful knives on this list. With two folding stainless-steel blades, it gives you more versatility in your cutting options. The larger clip blade is a sharp, multipurpose blade that’s often used for detailed work. It’s the sharper of the two blades and has a large cutting edge, so it’s the main attraction of this knife. The smaller pen blade is designed for simple jobs like cutting boxes open and opening envelopes.

It’s actually a similar size to the Old Timer pen knife we featured last, measuring just 2.625-inches when it’s folded. That means it’s great for detailed work and fitting in your pocket but it does make it pretty difficult to work with. If you have large hands, this knife is going to feel like a pair of nail clippers. We’d really only recommend it for those with dainty hands and a deft touch.

On the plus side, the craftsmanship on display here is truly impressive. Put this pocket knife under a microscope and you’ll find that everything is perfectly crafted. It’s quite difficult to see with the naked eye, but it really is a work of art, especially when you consider the low price. We also love the fact that it’s made in the USA and is covered by a limited lifetime warranty. It’s only small, but it packs a punch. For divers, we have prepared our selection of the best diving knives, so be sure to check them out.

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Key Features:

Jigged brown synthetic handle

Two stainless-steel blades

Approx closed length – 2.62”

Limited lifetime warranty

Specification:

BrandCASE XX

Model00083

Weight0.32 ounces

5

CRKT M16-01KZ EDC Folding Pocket Pen Knife

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CRKT M16-01KZ EDC Folding Pocket Knife is pretty famous in the knifemaking world. Designed by Kit Carson, a retired Master Sergeant and high-ranking member of the Knifemaker’s Guild, it has a distinctive design that won it a place as one of the Top 10 Tactical Folders of the Decade. So, it’s got clout. But how does it function as a tactical EDC knife?

In short, it functions pretty damn well. The 8Cr14MoV stainless steel blade has a spear point blade and a razor-sharp edge. That makes it ideal for fine cutting and carving jobs. If you’re willing to spend more, they have a model with a partly-serrated edge, which is even more versatile.

One of the most important features is the Carson Flipper Opening. Instead of a side-mounted button, it has a level on the back of the handle. Apply a small amount of pressure and the blade will rapidly spring to action. This system takes a bit of getting used to but it’s ultimately safer and faster than a normal button-operated flip knife.

The other stand out feature is the unique handle design. Made from glass-reinforced nylon, it’s covered in small holes making it lightweight and easier to grip. It might not look it, but it’s a surprisingly comfortable handle.

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Key Features:

Glass-reinforced nylon handle

8Cr14MoV stainless steel blade

Overall length – 7.13”

Blade length – 3.13”

Design by Kit Carson

Limited lifetime warranty

Specification:

BrandColumbia River Knife & Tool

ModelM16-01KZ

Weight2.24 ounces

6

SOG Multitool Q2 EDC Pen Light

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If you’re looking for more from your penknife, the SOG Multitool EDC Pen Light is the only choice. A lot of pen knives can make the mistake of featuring too many tools. This one just has four – a straight-edge blade, bottle opener, medium-flat screwdriver, and an LED flashlight. With those four tools, you can complete countless tasks.

Seeing as it’s a penknife, we’ll talk about the blade first. At 2.5-inches, it’s not that long but it’s made from 5Cr15MoV stainless steel and it’s plenty sharp. It also has a slightly serrated edge on the back of the knife. They don’t mention this in the product description but you’ll notice it as soon as you unbox the knife.

The LED flashlight is the other main feature of this multitool. Powered by one AAA battery, it’s an efficient 70-lumen flashlight situated on the bottom of the handle. If you work in dark environments, this tool will come in handy every day. SOG does make two models higher than the Q2 that have more tools. But, to be honest, we think this is the perfect amount of functionality on a penknife – it doesn’t take long to select the right tool and the whole thing weighs just three ounces.

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Key Features:

4 functions – blade, screwdriver, bottle opener, LED flashlight

5Cr15MoV stainless steel blade

Approx closed length – 6.3”

2017 BLADE SHOW AWARD WINNER

Limited lifetime warranty

Specification:

BrandSOG

ModelID1011-CP

Weight6.4 ounces

7

Spyderco Endura 4 Signature Folder Knife

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If you’ve got money to spend on a folding knife, Spyderco is the company to buy from. We featured the Endura 4 in our list of the best Spyderco knives, but we thought it deserved a mention here. It’s going to cost you quite a bit more than the other pen knives on this list, which is why it’s our Premium Pick. It’s money well spent though because Spyderco is all about quality and craftsmanship.

The Endura is one of Spyderco’s most famous knives and it’s been around since 1990. The new version, the Endura 4, has a few updates that make it one of the best folding knives on the market. For example, the saber-grind blade is made from VG-10 steel, cutlery-grade steel produced in Japan.

It also features an ergonomic handle made from fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN). This high-strength and lightweight handle design is a mainstay of Spyderco’s product range and a huge reason so many people buy their knives. In short, this is one of the sharpest, strongest, and easiest-to-use folding knives on the market. For more cool blades like this, check out our selection of the top boot knives.

The handle is covered in carbon-fiber scales which ride on stainless-steel riders. This reveals two blades. The main blade is a sharp clip blade that is capable of fine-detail cutting and everyday jobs like opening letters etc. Then, the second blade has a full-serrated edge, which is fantastic for cutting through porous materials. This dual-threat approach gives you twice the cutting power in a really small package. With both blades closed, it measures just over 3-inches. Plus, It comes with a velvet sleeve to protect your knife when it’s not being used. You may also like some of the best machetes from our list, so check them out.